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Tough Hosta Companion zone 5b?

9 years ago

I'm filling in my shade (read Hosta) bed and wanted to add some companions. I tried an astilbe, but it's dried up in this heat. My hostas and heuchera are tough and thriving. Any suggestions for heat tolerant companions?

Comments (23)

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I use varied perennials including astilbes and heucheras - sedums, sea hollies, Alchemilla Mollis, lilies, aruncus as in dwarf goats beard, lamium, sweet woodruff, hellebores, astrantia, columbines, epimedium, Solomon's seal etc.etc. None of these listed are growing in full shade, maybe half shade for some, most endure a fair amount of sun.

    Hennie Graafland astilbe has been hybridized for the sun. I found out not to plant astilbe anywhere near foundation of a building where they crisp up fast! :(

    How much shade does that bed get?

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    My bed gets 3 or 4 hours sun in the morning. The astilbe is in the center of the bed. Maybe it'll do better next year. I do like your suggestion of lilies and sea hollies!

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thank you. The sea hollies (sun lovers) are starting to take on colour - this morning ...

    Will be very metallic blue in July. (Your astilbe will benefit from some extra water this year especially during very hot days and be a stronger plant for you next year. I really love mine :)

  • 9 years ago

    Lovely! It adds a lot of texture to the neighboring hosta.

  • 9 years ago

    I bought some Hakonechloa Aureola and put it in shade and it does very poorly there. I will move it into a sunnier spot. I bought some Hakonechloa 'All Gold' that seems to like the shade afr better. Duh, read the information before digging.

    Maybe you might want to try some type of Hakonechloa suited to the sunnier or shadier spot you plan on. It really stands out with a contrasting texture and bright gold color.

    Jon

  • 9 years ago

    Thanks, Jon. I did not know some Hakonechloa like sun, that helps a lot and also with another bed I have.

    I've read these grow slowly (ideal for me). Has that been your experience?

  • 9 years ago

    Ferns are tough as nails and can survive shady dry areas. The provide a lovely lacey contrast to hosta leaves and colours. Lots and lots of varieties are available. Hellebores also work well with hosta and once established can put up with almost anything.

    Astilbes require moisture. Lots and lots of moisture.

    I've also had good luck with Aralia 'Sun King'. thalictrum, many varieties of primrose, spring bulbs, tricyrtis and spring and fall anenome.


    hl_60 thanked ninamarie
  • 9 years ago

    hl_60,

    I think Aureola would be good in sun. It sure as heck isn't good in shade.

    Jon

  • 9 years ago

    Jon, I have aureola in shade and this year it is doing very well but it took two years to establish and now has doubled.. go figure!

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    AH, I have had it in pretty deep shade for, ummm, three years (?). Three of them and they have barely survived, tiny, tiny. The new All Gold planted recently are doing far better than Aureola ever did. When I was looking for my new All Golds the nearby nursery had Aureola and the gal looked it up and it was rated for some shade, not where I have it for sure. I got these (in person) at Avant Gardens in Dartmouth, MA and they do most of their business mail order. I say this because getting All Gold was tough to find around here.

    Different locations must be the difference. Moving them into more sun is definitely on the 'To do" list....today maybe. I could move out that stinky little Fire and Ice, move the Aureolas and plant my new Humpback Whale and kill three birds with one stone in the same area.

    Jon

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    almosthooked, I love that Ligularia. It's huge!

    I'm zone 5b in hot, super sunny, dry Colorado. In my shade garden, I have heuchera, columbines, hardy fern and painted fern, lily of the valley, ajuga, brunera, bleeding heart, and believe it or not a few daylilies.

    I want to try helebores and that ligularia now!

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    If you get Ligularia plant, I leave the flowers on and collect the seeds from them. I have shaked the ripe seeds out underneath the mother plant and have stared dozens of them and planted in other areas . It is surprising how quickly they do grow Our zone is 5b in British Columbia Canada where I live and as long as they get lots of water they just grow. The flowers are daisy like dark yellow and to me not that striking but the seed production is crazy. If you were close I could collect seeds later but not sure how the US/ Canada border's rules are on this..

  • 9 years ago

    I have read that those All Gold Hakonechloa are more hardy than the variegated yellow ones. They aren't as elegant, though.

    The variegated ones need some direct sun here in zone 6b, north shore of Boston. I bought a bunch of them three-four years ago and about half lived; I put them in full shade. Full shade is not good for them here, and I have a friend who puts hers in full sun and they are growing faster than mine.


    I do have one that grows in full shade, sort of; it survives but does not increase in size. I need to move it.

    The new little All Gold one I just got is vigorously increasing in size in its shady spot; what a difference.


    hl_60 thanked liquidfeet Z6 Boston
  • 9 years ago

    I have read that those All Gold Hakonechloa are more hardy than the variegated yellow ones. They aren't as elegant, though.

    The variegated ones need some direct sun here in zone 6b, north shore of Boston. I bought a bunch of them three-four years ago and about half lived; I put them in full shade. Full shade is not good for them here, and I have a friend who puts hers in full sun and they are growing faster than mine.


    I do have one that grows in full shade, sort of; it survives but does not increase in size. I need to move it.

    The new little All Gold one I just got is vigorously increasing in size in its shady spot; what a difference.


  • 9 years ago

    My 7 year old Hakonechloa Aureola thrives in a hot spot next to a stone patio. It gets full sun til about 2 pm, then house shade afterward. I like the look very much, but wanted a Hakonechloa that would grow in full shade. I bought 2 All Gold last year, and they are thriving. They might get just a touch of dappled sun briefly. Right now they are a brilliant gold, but will get more chartreuse as the season wears on. All Gold does not have as much of a weeping form as Aureola. It is somewhat more upright and the blades are shorter.

  • 9 years ago

    Second year All Gold in a good sun area

    Aureola 'out back' getting the most sun...also in a high run-off area. ( 3 years)

    Three All Golds, new, in a good amount of shade.

    Aureola getting a good amount of shade with 3 years in position.

    I am going to relocate the Aureola to more sun. If I buy any more Hakonechloa it will be All Golds. The growth and color have been superior for me.

    Jon



  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Aureola is VERY slow grower.
    I have had mine for a long time, but I thought it would never achieve much
    size. Now in the last 2 years it has really exploded.

    Knowing how slow it is, I
    just bought 6 pots for an area where I want a
    3 x 5 foot expanse of it. I definitely want the weeping, flowing look there.

    My original Aureola is sending
    runners through other perennials. Someday when I am caught up with my new
    plantings and bed renovation I want to try to tease some out and see if I can
    plant these between the new ones to help fill in.

    I have had my 2 All Golds for only
    a year, but it does seem to be faster.

  • 9 years ago

    Thank you, all! The Golds look great and I definitely need a slow grower. I'm also going to add lilies and Brunnera as well as some obligatory heuchera. Looking forward to shopping!

  • 9 years ago

    FWIW, lilies need as much sun as you can give them. They might handle SOME shade, but will produce few blooms. The only lily that likes shade is the woodland native Martagon group: not that easy to find except by a specialist lily bulb dealer.

  • 9 years ago

    Linnea56 thank you. The bed gets about 4 hours of sun. I figure I'll give the lilies a try, I may luck out. Fingers crossed.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    What zone are you in? With 4 hours, you'll get some blooms. Ideal is 6 hours or more. But I grow lots of lily varieties and have no bed that gets 6 hours. I just don't get big stems of a dozen or more blooms. Typical for a mature bulb for me is 8.

    While you are experimenting, don't invest a lot in the lily bulbs. They like it drier than hostas or heucheras do ideally.

  • 9 years ago

    I'm zone 5b. Good to know lilies like drier soil. Any recommendations for a dwarf lily variety? I'm not picky when it comes to color.